Wind direction and velocity signaling system



Sept. 30; 1952 A. E. CHISHOLM ETAL 2,612,043

WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm ul 9 67 mam Sept. 30, 1952 A. E. CHISHOLM ETAL 2,512,043

7 WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY SIGNALING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 5, 1948 jLL -N E. CAI/SHOLM,

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 "UNIT-NEED; STATES PATENT OFFICE] I WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY SIGNALING SYSTEM Allen E. Chisholm and James v. Hamar, Portland, .0rcg., said Hamar assignor to said Chisholm Application November 5, 1948, Serial No."58,'4'66 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for providing an indication of-zthe direction of air currents in th vicinity of-Ian airport; and an indication of the velocity of such ground wind.

The invention'pertains-to signalling means providingtan indication o f'lthedirection and velocity of 'the windduring 'hours of darknessas well as duringthel'day time.

The "conventional Wind-sockemployed by airports for indicating the direction of the wind fails toprovide iniormation regarding the velocity. isuch meansfor indicating .the direction of the wind: does not provid thepilotofan aircraft with :sufiicient information I for determining the velocity of the-groundwind and thereby does notpermit the pilot itornake the necessary adjustments in the landing to safely and properly appreach-the airport or landingistrip.

-An object of a the p'resentinvention is to 'pro' v 2 Y Fig. 2 is a side ielevational view partly in section of abearing unit for supporting parts of the signalling-mechanism. Y j

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view' partly in section illustrating means for translating changesin'the' wind velocity to the signals. Y Fig. dis a fragmentary plan'view-o'f the switch mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the contact mechanism forming a part-of the velocity sig nalling. means.

Fig. 6 is a circuitdiagram illustrating the-com nections to the signalling elements.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown 'at 0 a mast of suitable height 'for supporting the signalling mechanism above the ground or an airport. The mast H1 is attachedto a base member II as shownin-Figs. 1'and2, an'd'this base is maintained in a fixed-and-non-rotatable position. The base member I I is provided with a threaded opening I2 for-receiving a threaded barrel I l which extends'upwardly from the base member I I to any desirable height. The barrel l 4 is preferably short andthe necessaryheight is obtained by lengthening-the mast Ill. The barrel I4 "may be maintained in a secure'manner 'o'n'th'e baseI'I by means ofaloc k'nut lli. Y Y

A tubular shaft IIism'ounted within'thebar'rel I4 and is adapted for rotation therein. This shaft i of smaller diameter than'the internal dimensions of the barrel I4 as shown in'FigEZ.

The tubular shaft I! is supported for rotation-by means of a ball bearing assembly Y l8 mounted in the upper end-'of'the barrel M and'a secondfball the velocity of the Wind, such as brief and inbearing assembly l-Barrangedadjacnt the lower" termitt'entg'ust end of the barrel M. The upperend of the tu Y I A more detailed object :ofthe invention is to bular'shaft I1 is provided with a smaller diameter provide signalling means for an airport for inp rti n which xt nds through a dust cap 2|. dicating the direction of the ground wind and This cap is -pro'vi'ded withaskirt'whichoverhangs the velocity thereof, including :means to indicate 40 the bearing assembly I 8 and accordingly preiailureiofthe velocity signalling means whereby vents access of-dust or other'foreign matter *to the'pilotrmaybe made aware of'the fact thatthe the interior of the barrel I4. The lower end of mechanism is not 'functioning properly to indithe tubular shaft is also of a reduced diameter cate the'velo'cityof theairicurrents or changes in and the inner race of the bearing I9 is mainsuch velocity. I taine'd in operative association with the hollow Other objects and features of the invention h ft by means of a 1ock nut'2'2 threaded onthe will ibem'ore apparent to those skilled in the art ower end of the shaft n. The 'barrel I 4 is rthe presentidisclosure proceeds 'andupo'n' concounterbored at each end to receive the outer sideration of the accompanying drawings and races of the bearing assemblies 18 and I a-and.v the following detailed description wherein a'typithe shoulders pr v ded by such counter'boring calembodiment of the invention is disclosed. serve as thrust-stops for 'these bearing assemblies. flintheidrawingsz Y When theupper-end of' theshaft is threaded Fig. J. is a side elevational' view o'f pparatus into a ross member 25'andfiths iockhdtzz-is exhibiting the invention and sho'wing the gehtightened against the bearing assembly. I9, :ith'e eral orga'nization. "1155 bearings-are then looked to"th-e shaft 11 in sucli' a manner that this shaft is free to rotate within the barrel Hi. Any vertical thrust is opposed or restrained by the oounterbores within the barrel M.

A cylindrical shaped member 28 is mounted on the lower end of the hollow shaft ll, and this member is formed of insulating material. Two metal slip rings 21 ,and 28 are mounted on the insulating member 28, and this assembly is accordingly rotated during turning movements of the shaft H. An insulating plate 3| is arranged on the base member H and may be detachably secured thereto in any suitable manner. This insulating plate 3| is provided for supporting two brushes 32 and 33. These brushes respectively engage the slip rings 2'! and 28.

A tubular stem 38 extends upwardly from the cross member 25 and forms a support for a cylindrical housing 37. This housing is provided for enclosing a mechanism such as illustrated in Fig. 3, and which is hereinafter described in detail. The tubular stem 36 also forms a conduit for conductors which form a part of the electrical connections between elements of the signalling mechanism as described below. The housing 31 is provided with a removable top plate or cover 38 which supports a tubular member 38 and which forms a part of a conventional anemometer cup head 41. The lower end of the shaft driven by the anemometer cup head is illustrated at 42 in Fig. 3. This shaft 42 carries a coupling member 43. The coupling 43 is secured to the shaft 42 by means of a pin 84. The coupling member 43 is provided with a tongue which extends into a groove in a complementary coupling member 46. The coupling member 48 is attached to a vertical shaft 41 by means of a pin 48. The shaft 41 is journaled for rotation in a frame member indicated generally at by means of ball bearing assemblies 50 and 52. The shaft 4'! is accordingly driven by the anemometer head 41 and at a speed corresponding to the velocity of the wind.

The frame 5| and the parts associated therewith are adapted to be mounted within the housing 31. The frame 5i includes an upper bar 53 and a lower bar 54. These bar elements of the frame are connected by vertically arranged rods or bolts 58 and 51. A governor is mounted on the shaft 41 and the bar 58 thereof is secured to the'shaft 4? by means of'a collar and pin assembly indicated at 59. The upper component of the governor is thereby fixed to the shaft 41. The lower component of the governor is indicated at GI and is slidable on the shaft 41. This portion of the governor includes a tubular member for attachment of the switch actuating mechanism hereinafter described. The governor differs from a conventional governor in that the top cross bar 58 is of sufficient length measured horizontally so that the fulcrum pins supporting the links 83 and 64 are so arranged that these members will hang in substantially vertical positions when the shaft 41 is not rotating. The inertia weights 85 and 66 are illustrated in the inoperative position in Fig. 3. This construction provides for extreme sensitivity at low rotational speeds of the shaft 41 and accordingly provides a more accurate indication of the low wind velocities.

The upper end of the shaft 41' is provided with a reduced diameter portion which fits the inner race of the ball bearing assembly 52. The outer race of this ball bearing is supported by the frame member 53. The lower end of the shaft 41 is provided with a similar reduced diameter portion which fits the inner race of the ball bearing as sembly 50 mounted in the cross member 54. Accordingly, the weight of the shaft 41 and the governor elements is supported by the bearing 58.

A helical shaped sprin 61 surrounds the lower end of the shaft 4'! and bears at one end against the tubular member forming a lower portion of the governor. The opposite end of the spring 61 engages the inner race of the bearing 58. This spring 81 is at a maximum compression when the governor and the shaft 41 are at rest. A minimum compression of this spring 61 is attained when the tubular portion 6| of the governor has moved upwardly from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 3 for a distance approximating one-third of its vertical movement on the shaft 41. The purpose of this spring 61 is to provide increased sensitivity of the governor for counteracting any frictional resistance encountered in the governor mechanism in startin and during low speed rotation such as prevails when the wind velocity is low.

A yoke '68 is fulcrumed or pivotally mounte on the governor and is accordingly moved with movement of the tubular member 61 of the governor. Rollers (not shown) may be provided on the yoke 68 engaging between the flanges H and 12 carried by the member 6|. These rollers may be attached to the yoke 68 by means of stub shafts 83. The yoke member 88 is U-shaped and the closed end portion thereof is shown in Fig. 4. This closed end portion of the yoke carries a plurality of magnets 13 and 14 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These magnets may be of the permanent magnet type and U-shaped as shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of the yoke member 68 supports a counterweight 16 which is mounted between the free ends of a U-shaped yoke member 68. The parallel legs of the yoke 68 straddle a bracket 11 which is mounted on the bar or bolt 56. A pivot pin 18 extends through the two legs of the yoke member 68 and through an opening in the bracket H. The position of the bracket TI may be adjusted on the bolt 56 by means of lock nuts 8| so that the position of the pivot pin 18 may be adjusted. This adjustment of the pivot point of the yoke member 68 permitsadjustment of the magnets 13 and 14 relative to the switch members hereinafter described. The counterweight I6 is preferably of suflicient mass to exactly balance the weight of the yoke to the right of the pivot point 18 whereby the governor mechanism is not called upon to carry an unbalanced condition of the yoke assembly. The magnets [3 and H are clamped to an extension 82 which extends from the yoke member and mag nets may be attached thereto by means of a screw and clamp members 83.

A plate 84 formed of insulating material is supported on the frame member 54 by means of a bracket 85. A plurality of electrical switches are mounted on the insulating plate 84 and these switches are indicated at 86, 81, 88 and 89. These switches are all mounted adjacent a stop plate 8| having an edge thereof curved to a radius centering at the pivot point 18. A similarly curved support 82 is provided for supporting one end of the switch fingers 83. Each switch finger carries an armature 94 and the free end of each of the switch fingers carries a contact element 96. The resilience of each switch finger may be varied by means of a screw 97 which is threaded through a bracket 98 carried by the support 92. A plurality of bracket H)! are mounted on the insulatareadjustedso as to regulate the maximum move- I01, I08, I09randIIO. The arm I09 is preferably hollow: so as toform aconduit for the electrical conductors extendingto these fixtures. Extending in an opposite direction, from :cross member is:.a frame ,2 for supporting a conventional typewind sock. This frame includes a conduit H 8- extending into the interior of the cross member 25 and this conduit is .adapted to provide means forencasing electrical wires. extendingxto electric .light fixture II4. This lighting fixture is adapted to illuminate the interior of the wind sock :and to-provide an indication of the wind even in hours of darkness. A counterweight H9 is carried by the conduit I. I8. The signalling device also includes a plurality, inthis case four, tubular'arms I2I which are in open communication with the housing 3l and supported thereby. These, tubular arms I'2I provide conduits-and supports for electrical lighting fixtures I22.

Theelectrical circuit for the signalling apparatus is shown in Fig. 6. Asource of energy is supplied'to the conductors I30, I'3I and these conductors are connected to the brushes 32 and 33. A conductor I33 extends from the slip ring 21 to all of the switch-fingers of the switches 80, 81, 8B and 89. Another branch conductor I34 extends from the wire I33'to one side of the lamp II4. A further branch wire I36 extends to one side of the lamps I22. Accordingly, potential from one side of the line is supplied to the fingers of the switches 80, 81, 88 and 89 and to one side of the lamp H4 and to one side of the lamp I22.

A conductor I31 is connected to the other slip ring 28 and is connected through a wire I39 to the other sideof the lamp II4, A relay coil MI is alsoconnected to the conductor I39 and the other side of the lamp I I4. A relay coil MI is also connected to the conductor I39 and the other side of this coil is connected by means of a wire I42 to one side of the lamps I01, I08, I09 and H0. .A plurality of conductors extend from the opposite side of the lamps I01, I08, I09 and H0 to the fixed contacts I02 of the switch fingers. A conductor I60 extends from the opposite sidesof-the lamps I22 to a contact IBI. This contact is engaged by a switch arm I62 when the relay coil MI is energized. The conductors extending from the slip ring 21 and 28 to the various signal lamps and the relay I4I are all housed within the. hollow shaft I I and the tubular conduits which form supporting elements for the various parts of the apparatus.

I operation, the cross member 25, and all of the elements supported thereby, rotates freely on the bearings I8 and I9. The air current passing through the wind sock attached to the frame I I2 causes this wind sock to distend leewardly, thus rotating the cross member 25 and. pointing the fixtures on the arm I 00 windwardly. Such air current simultaneously rotate the anemometer head 4| thus driving the shaft 42 and the shaft 41 actuating the governor. As the shaft 41 rotates the weights 65 and 66 swing outwardly to raise the :sliding :tubular. member "-6 I Eon ,theshaft '41. Such upwardmovementof thejsliding component of thexgovernor :raises .theyoke member .68 .and causesfthezyokecmember to turn about the axis ofzthe pin I8. The magnets I3. and I4, therefore,

move .up'wardly butare stillspaced a uniform: distanceufrom .thestop plate -.9.I Thev flux produced by the'polesziof the magnets-permeates an armature 94 of a switch finger 93in proportion to the relative .position;and distancebetween the magnet and a particulararmature. The forceexerted: by thisfiux on the .arma-tures 94. isresisted by ithez'resilient:structure of the switch fingers proportionate to "the tension imposed on such fingersbytthescrews 91. Thus. if any one armaturmispositionedin the path of maximum flux then .theimagnetic ipull onr such armature is at a maximum. The :fingers 93 are constructed of resilient .material and these switches return to the inoperative position whenthefiux is no longer sufiicient to bias-theifingers to'axswitch closing position. It is to be noted that the magnets I3 and I4 provide an..overlap between the adjacent armaturesfitwhereby .two armatures may be .at-

' tracted. simultaneouslytand one 'of'thearmatures The-actuation of.one'ofthe fingers 93 closing" the .switch 86, for example, completes a circuit from the slip ring 21 through the conductor I33 and .the lamp I0Iand the conductor I42, the

relay coil I4Isand the conductor I3I to the other side of the line through the slip ring 28. This causes .the lamp I01 to be'energized and also causes "the relay switch arm I62 to engage the contact; I B I -Accordingly,another circuit is :completed through the conductor I34, the branch wire'I-36, the lamps I22 and'the conductor I 69 and the wire I31 to the other side of theline wherebythe lamps I22 are energized. The lamp I is also energized :to illuminate the wind sock.

If it is calmforwhen thevelocityof the wind is low, theswitch'86 will be closed since thearmature 94 carried by the lowermost switch finger 9-3 will-be in the path'of-the. maximum flux. Ac.- cordingly,'the lamp I01 will be-energized and this lamp may be enclosed in agreen color casing which will glow in connection with the uncolored lights I22, .thusiindicating substantially no velocity of the wind. If a slight breeze exists or develops, amounting to five miles an hour, for example, the magnets I3and i4 will move slightly upward "because of the increased speed in the rotation of the shaft 41, These magnets will then be .in aposition to exert sufiicient magnetic force to-close the finger of the switch 81 without releasing the finger of the switch 86. Such closure of the switch 81 will illuminate the light I08 which may be, for example, coloredyellow. This combination of colors will then provide an indication that the ground wind .has a velocity of approximately fivemiles .perhour.

An increase in the velocity of the air current adjacent the airport to ten miles an hour, for example, will cause the magnets I3 and I4 to move upwardly so as decrease the fiuxsufiiciently on the lowermost armature to permit the switch finger of the switch 86 to return to an open position whereby the lamp I01 will be de-ener'gized. Thus the fixture I08 will remain illuminated, indicating a velocity of approximately ten miles per hour. A further increase in the velocity of the ground wind will cause the magnets I3 and 74 to move further upwardly, creating a further combination of colors which will prevail in sequence, and with an inverse sequence at diminishingwind velocities. The colors that have been chosen, but which may be varied, and which appear to be readily visible from considerable height are that the lamp I! is green, thelamp' I08 is yellow, lamp I09 is blue and lampin: is red. Other colors and sequence of colors maybe employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

If any of the lamps of the velocity indicating means should burn out, or any of the circuits leading thereto become open, the circuit to relay winding Ml will thereby be opened. :Such deenergization of the relay winding will permit'theswitch arm I62 to move to an open position so that the lamps I22 will be de-energized thereby indicatin that the wind velocity indications are to be disregarded. It is to be noted thatthe sequence of operation is such that the lamps I22 will be extinguished'only when an open circuit condition prevails in connection with the switches 88, 8?, 88 and 89. J

The foregoing description of invention represents one manner in which the principles may be employed in practice, but the structural features may be varied in a number of respects. Theposition of the various elements may be arranged in any manner, and additional lamps may be em ployed as wind velocity indicating means. Various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

cordance with the velocity of the wind, and means in said circuit for indicating the failure of a circuit to said lamps. v

2. In an airport signalling device, a member rotatable about a vertical axis, a horizontal arm carried by said member, a plurality of lamps on said arm, a wind sock frame carried by said cross member, a plurality of switches for completing circuits to said lamps, a governor mechanism driven in response to the velocity of the wind, magnetic means actuated by said governor for closingswitches, and a housing carried by said member encasing said governor and said switches.

3. In a system for visually signaling the direction and velocity of air currents to airborne craft, the combination comprising a member rotatable about a vertical axis, a horizontal arm supported by said member, a plurality of signal lamps supported upon said arm and positioned adjacent to one end thereof and means located adjacent to the opposite end of said arm to position the arm in the direction of air current flow, a circuit for energizing said signal lamps comprising a separate switch for each of said lamps, switch actuatingmeans comprising a member movable in accordance with the velocity of said air currents for simultaneously closing not more than two of said switches, a pilot lamp supported on said member and energized from said circuit, and means for deenergizing said pilot lamp upon cessation of illumination of said signal lamps.

4. In an airport signaling device, a member rotatable about a vertical axis, a horizontal arm carried by said member, a plurality of lamps on said arm, means responsive to wind direction for rotating said member, a governor mechanism driven in response to the velocity of the wind, a magnet pivotally connected to said governor, a plurality of magnetic switches positioned in the orbital pivotal path of said magnet, and electrical connections between said switches and said lamps for sequentially actuating said lamps in response to said governor.

5. In a system for visually signaling the direction and velocity of air currents to airborne craft, the combination comprising amember rotatable about a vertical axis, a horizontal arm supported by said member, a plurality of signal lamps supported upon said arm and positioned adjacent to one end thereof and means located adjacent to the opposite end of said arm to position the arm in the direction of air current flow, a governor having a shaft whose vertical position is responsive to the velocity of air currents, a magnetic switch actuator pivotally connected to said shaft and rotated thereby, a circuit for energizin said signal lamps comprising a separate switch for each of said lamps, said switches being positioned in line adjacent the orbital path of one end of said switch actuator, said switches and switch actuator being so positioned relative to one another as to produce sequential actuation of said switches and simultaneous closing of not more than two thereof.

ALLEN E. CHISI-IOLM. JAMES V. HAMAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,475,075 Macy Nov. 20, 1923 1,496,486 Pedu June 3, 1924 1,913,672 I-Iuking June 13, 1933 1,953,159 Eskilson et al Apr. 3, 1934 2,172,903 Charping Sept. 12, 1939 2,236,429 Hipsley Mar. 25, 1941 2,435,106 Stilwell Jan. 2'7, 1948 

